Action | Tradesman Regulations - Regulatory Reform |
Stage | Proposed |
Comment Period | Ended on 10/25/2013 |
I’m an inspector, plan reviewer and tradesman and have been in the trade since 1994. To me DPOR eliminating the continuing education requirements is sending a message to the public that these tradesmen have learned everything they could possibly learn. Therefore no more training is needed. I couldn’t disagree more with that thought process. I learn something new every day from new materials, new installation technics, and different interpretations of code sections. Why is the responsibility of training and educating these contractors fall on the shoulders of the inspectors? As inspectors we are required to satisfy continuing education requirements in order to maintain our certification, what makes the tradesmen any different? Are you implying that inspectors still have things that they need to learn that is why inspectors are required to satisfy continuing education requirements? I answer questions every day from tradesmen about the code, how to install a particular product, are certain products approved, and so on. It is clear to me that these tradesmen need the educational requirements. I feel that the educational requirement should actually be more than what is currently required. My wife is a CPA and is required to have 40 hours of continuing education each year in order to maintain her license. I do have some concerns that as a tradesman I have received nothing from DPOR about this matter. No letter about doing away with the educational requirements, nothing on any meetings scheduled, absolutely nothing. If not for being involved in the organizations that I am and contacts that I have I would not be aware that this was happening. Based on the concerns and information stated I am against the elimination of the educational requirement to maintain your tradesmen license.